By Lima Varghese
Indore: The first global and the seventh online National Peace Convention ended on February 1 in the central Indian city of Indore with the adoption of the Peace Declaration 2021.
Under the declaration, Rotarians have promised to set up Peace Chair in colleges and schools, visit educational institutions and speak to students and teachers on peace building.
Their Rotary clubs will collaborate with civil society organization to train “peace mediators” and get them recognized by the government so that can intervene in conflict situations, as Red Cross personnel do.
The participants pledged to become agents of peace by forgiving others unconditionally. They would avoid hatred towards anyone and stay away from social media posts that promote hatred.
They will also organize peace conventions, seminars or workshops in schools and other educational institutions.
Another plan is to start Peace Clubs in educational institutions for students, teachers and parents.
The participants will use social media platforms to disseminate messages of peace and harmony to counteract hate speech.
Rotarians and others will celebrate the main festivals of various religions and conduct inter-religious prayers to promote respect for all faiths, encourage reading the scriptures of different religions.
The January 30-February 1 convention was attended by more than 750 people from 15 states of India and 20 countries. On an average 450 people participated in the various sessions. The highest participation was in the inaugural session with 540 persons.
The Peace Convention started on January 30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a champion of world peace.
Chief guest of the concluding program, Sudarshan Laxmi Inger, former Vice-chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith Ahmedabad, apealed the participants to lead a simple life in harmony with nature to bring in peace in oneself, society and the nature. This is the message that Mohandas Gandhi gives us today, he added.
Main insights of the convention:
Peace is not mere absence of war, but peace comes out positive actions like efforts to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality, promotion of literacy and education and improving health care.
Conflict resolution and conflict prevention through dialogue are essential for maintaining world peace. Individuals, communities and countries must be ready to listen and understand others perspectives.
Bharat Mata is not merely a geographical area; Bharat Mata is its land, its flora and fauna, and above all its people. Every Indian citizen is Bharat Mata. The state cannot be seen as a profit making organization, but its primary duty is to care for the wellbeing of its people.
While taking policies, our leaders have to listen to Mahatma Gandhi, “Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man/woman whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him/her.”
For the promotion of peace and harmony, people all over the world, especially Indians, have to preserve and promote the precious heritage of unity in diversity and the attitude of vasudhaiva kutumbakam (The whole universe is a family). There should not be fear in any individual in order to preserve unity in diversity. Any effort to create fear in any individual or community is a threat to peace.
Intolerance and hate speech are becoming a great threat to peace in different parts of the world, including India. One has to express differences in views, thoughts and ideology without resorting to violence and being sensitive to the rights of others to express their views.